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National Society to Prevent Blindness

EIN 56-6088141 · Raleigh, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREVENT BLINDNESS AND PRESERVE SIGHT THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
27.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
42
Volunteers
6,410
Highest pay
$210,647, president/ce

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $550,544 spent. PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION-PROVIDED ONLINE NC VISION RESOURCE GUIDE TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND INDIVIDUALS SEEKING VISION CARE ASSISTANCE, PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO OVER 52,000 PRESCHOOL FAMILIES AND 3,192 VISION SCREENING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS, DISTRIBUTED MATERIALS TO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND PEDIATRICIANS CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD VISION CARE UPON REQUEST.
  2. $496,074 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES-PHOTOSCREENED 42,574 PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, INCLUDING HEADSTART AND NC PRE-K PROGRAMS AT 776 CHILD CARE CENTERS. PROVIDED VISION SCREENING SERVICES TO 4,456 ADULTS AT 57 SCREENING SITES CONVENIENT TO THEM. PROVIDED FOLLOW-UP SERVICES TO ALL PRESCHOOLERS AND ADULTS REFERRED FOR POTENTIAL VISION PROBLEMS. OPERATED VISION SERVICE PLAN, NATIONAL VISION CARES, DONOR DOCS, ZENNI OPTICAL AND ONE SIGHT VOUCHER PROGRAMS, PROVIDING FREE EYEGLASSES AND/OR EYEEXAMS TO 1,206 REFERRED INDIVIDUALS.
  3. $284,821 spent. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING-CONDUCTED VISION SCREENING CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS TAILORED FOR SCHOOL NURSES, SCHOOL STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS. THROUGH BOTH THE ONSITE WORKSHOP AND THE ASYNCHRONOUS TRAINING, A TOTAL OF 3,192 SCREENERS WERE CERTIFIED. OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS TRAINED, 797 (25%) WERE CERTIFIED ASYNCHRONOUSLY. 824 NURSES PARTICIPATED IN THE IN-SERVICE CERTIFICATIONS.
  4. $188,199 spent. RESEARCH-WORKED WITH UNIVERSITIES, STATEWIDE, AND NATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE BEST METHODS TO SCREEN CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WORKED CLOSELY WITH VISION RESEARCH CORP TO TRACK INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF PRESCHOOL EYE PROBLEMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. CONTINUED PILOTED AN ASYNCHRONOUS TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS.
  5. RESEARCH-WORKED WITH UNIVERSITIES, STATEWIDE, AND NATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE BEST METHODS TO SCREEN CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WORKED CLOSELY WITH VISION RESEARCH CORP TO TRACK INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF PRESCHOOL EYE PROBLEMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. CONTINUED PILOTED AN ASYNCHRONOUS TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.